Water sled apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a towed water sled apparatus that includes a hull, a pair of knee indentations to accommodate any sized rider&#39;s knees while the rider is riding the apparatus and a pair of handles with a non-slip gripping surface disposed on each side of the apparatus. There is also a bumper pad disposed in front of the knee indentations to provide padding and protection to the rider while riding and a hitching aperture disposed on the hull to receive and attach a towing line to pull the apparatus. The apparatus is designed to greatly reduce diving or sinking while being towed or in an upright or overturned position.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application61/305,105 filed on Feb. 16, 2010, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to a water sled apparatus. Morespecifically, the invention is a towable water sled apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to provide a towable water sledapparatus that is relatively easily maneuvered by a rider.

It is an object of the invention to provide a towable water sledapparatus that greatly reduces diving or sinking while being towed,especially in an overturned position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a towable water sledapparatus that does not require a rider be strapped to the water sledapparatus while riding.

What is really needed is a towable water sled apparatus that isrelatively easily maneuvered by a rider, greatly reduces diving orsinking while being towed, especially in an overturned position and thatdoes not require a rider be strapped to the water sled apparatus whileriding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments,but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawing in whichlike references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a diagonal overhead front perspective view of awater sled apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B illustrates an overhead perspective view of a water sledapparatus, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described usingterms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention maybe practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes ofexplanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrativeembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Inother instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in ordernot to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, inturn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the presentinvention. However, the order of description should not be construed asto imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Inparticular, these operations need not be performed in the order ofpresentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generallydoes not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms“comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless thecontext dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1A illustrates a diagonal overhead front perspective view of awater sled apparatus 100, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 1B illustrates an overhead perspective view of awater sled apparatus 100, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

The water sled apparatus 100 is typically towed behind a watercraft (notshown) and allows a rider to steer the water sled apparatus 100relatively easily without being strapped to the board. The water sledapparatus 100 can be used by very young riders with much less chance ofinjury because the rider is not strapped to water sled apparatus 100while riding. The water sled apparatus 100 includes a pair of kneeindentations 110, a pair of handles 120, a bumper pad 130 and a hitchingaperture 140.

The rider typically rides the water sled apparatus 100 in the kneelingposition in the knee indentations 110 while holding the handles 120. Theknee indentations 110 can accommodate any sized rider. There istypically a pair of handles 120 disposed on the sides 102 of the watersled apparatus 100 in front of the knee indentations 110. The handles120 also have a non-slip gripping surface 122 to allow a rider torelatively better grasp the handles 120 and relatively better maneuverthe water sled apparatus 100. The non-slip gripping surface 122 is madeof rubber or any other suitable material. The bumper pad 130 is disposedin front of the knee indentations 110 to prevent a rider from beingthrown forward out of the knee indentations 110 and to provide paddingand protection when a rider bumps forwards into the bumper pads 130. Thehitching aperture 140 is disposed on the front or hull 104 of the watersled apparatus 100 and receives and attaches a towing line (not shown)to pull said water sled apparatus 100.

The water sled apparatus 100 has a solid hull 104 made of and formedfrom molded plastic or compression formed polymer and the handles 120are made from solid plastic or metal. The knee indentations 110 andbumper pads 130 are made of any type of foam rubber that is suitable foruse with the water sled apparatus 100.

The water sled apparatus 100 is towable and is relatively easilymaneuvered by the rider. This is opposed to an inflatable towable watersled or water recreation apparatus which are relatively hard tomaneuver. The water sled apparatus 100 greatly reduces diving or sinkingwhile being towed without a rider in an upright or overturned position.The water sled apparatus 100 is designed to plane or stay on the surfaceof water in any position with or without a rider.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoingembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventionis not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention canbe practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded asillustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

1. A water sled apparatus, comprising: a hull; a pair of kneeindentations to accommodate a rider's knees while said rider is ridingsaid apparatus; a pair of handles disposed on each side of saidapparatus; a bumper pad disposed in front of said knee indentations toprovide padding and protection to said rider while riding; and ahitching aperture disposed on said hull to receive and attach a towingline to pull said apparatus.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said hull is made of solid molded plastic or solid compressionformed polymer.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said kneeindentures can accommodate any sized said rider.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said knee indentations are made of foamrubber.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said handles aremade of plastic or metal.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid handles have a non-slip rubber gripping surface.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said bumper pad is made of foam rubber. 8.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is towed. 9.The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said apparatus does not sinkor drop while being towed.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said apparatus greatly reduces diving or sinking while beingtowed in an upright or overturned position.
 11. A towed water sledapparatus, comprising: a hull; a pair of knee indentations toaccommodate any sized rider's knees while said rider is riding saidapparatus; a pair of handles with a non-slip gripping rubber surfacedisposed on each side of said apparatus; a bumper pad disposed in frontof said knee indentations to provide padding and protection to saidrider while riding; and a hitching aperture disposed on said hull toreceive and attach a towing line to pull said apparatus.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 11, wherein said hull is made of solidmolded plastic or solid compression formed polymer.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein said knee indentations are made of foamrubber.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said handlesare made of plastic or metal.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 11,wherein said bumper pad is made of foam rubber.
 16. The apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein said apparatus greatly reduces diving orsinking while being towed or while in an upright or overturned position.17. A towed water sled apparatus, comprising: a hull made of solidmolded plastic or solid compression formed polymer; a pair of kneeindentations to accommodate any sized rider's knees while said rider isriding said apparatus; a pair of plastic or metal handles with anon-slip gripping rubber surface disposed on each side of saidapparatus; a bumper pad disposed in front of said knee indentations toprovide padding and protection to said rider while riding; and ahitching aperture disposed on said hull to receive and attach a towingline to pull said apparatus.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 17,wherein said knee indentations are made of foam rubber.
 19. Theapparatus according to claim 17, wherein said bumper pad is made of foamrubber.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said apparatusgreatly reduces diving or sinking while being towed or while in anupright or overturned position.